the-scottish-nationa..

THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL RACING PIGEON CLUB
UPDATE AND REVIEW OF 2007
Now that the Xmas and New Year festivities are past, thoughts wonder to what 2008 will have in
store for the racing pigeon fraternity, not only in Scotland but the UK as a whole, bearing in
mind that in 2007 we were plagued by the dreaded bird Flu and some shocking weather causing
havoc with race programmes, not only from across the channel but the effect it had on race
programmes in the UK as well, one would hope that we will fair better on both counts this
coming year.
Updating the members on our coming AGM maybe as good a starting point as any. The SNRPC
AGM will be held in the Newbridge Bowling Club on Saturday the 9 th of February 2008 at 12
noon when there will be a full agenda, beginning with the presidents report on the clubs healthy
financial position the election of all officials, a number of important motions for ratification by
the members these motions to keep the club on its forward moving momentum plus the
confirmation of our race programme dates. The committee are hoping that all members who have
the genuine interests of this small specialist long distance Scottish National Racing Pigeon Club
at heart will be present to successfully support the SNRPC through to its 4 th year since its
inception in 2005. The committee are very well aware that in the past 3 years the majority of
these members have been the reason that the SNRPC has been so successful and wish to ensure
that this genuine support is continued indefinitely into the future.
Prior to the AGM the SNRPC will be holding its 3 rd Annual Presentation function and dance this
outstanding evening will be again held in the Cairn Hotel Bathgate and has been brought forward
prior to the AGM to Saturday January the 26 th 2008, at the moment we have in excess of 160
guests booked, our Top Table Guests are Mr & Mrs Mike Lakin the PRO for the Midlands
National Flying Club and Dr Geof Richmond Vice President of the MNFC Dr Richmond will be
accompanied by his wife. The function is arrival at 5pm for 5-30 pm start, the President,
Secretary and the Committee look forward to welcoming our guests, our winning members and
their families also all other members and friends who join us for this special evening we look
forward meeting you all on the 26 th .
I would highlight a few significant achievements that the SNRPC members have managed to
establish over our very short history.
The SNRPC was formed in 2005, a club born of frustration through the manipulation of authority
and the demise of commonsense, in 2004 the Scottish racing pigeon fraternity suffered, what in
many sensible peoples minds was a break down of reason and sensibility with the growth of a
serious attitude problem threatening an already troubled Scottish Fancy, the result was that some
400 plus Scottish fanciers became founder members of the Scottish National Racing Pigeon
Club. From these troubled beginnings the SNRPC has became a much respected and successful
specialist Scottish long distance Racing pigeon club within the UK and abroad, with a high
proportion of its members being some of Scotland’s best well established long distance fanciers.
This decision to form another National club in Scotland was not taken lightly especially when

the racing pigeon recreation, has, like many other recreations been losing members to changes in
life styles, however with the SNRPC,s outlook that it would be prepared to accept members of
any recognised association with lofts situated within Scotland the doors would always be open to
all fanciers of what ever denomination, this has proved to be correct and the SNRPC has seen its
membership remain at around approximatley 400 right up to the present time, when many other
similar clubs are losing membership at alarming rates.
In 2005 the SNRPC had organised a full race programme, beginning with Newbury the inland
National, then Alencon our Premier Gold Medal race, Cholet our longest channel race, then
Falaise the last channel race and finally Leciester, our Young Bird Open. In this our first
inaugural year we had 1541 entries at Newbury entered by some 300 plus members, 762 entries
at Alencon entered by 186 members, 66 members entered just short of 200 birds for Cholet, 908
entries for Falaise from 162 members and 873 entries in the young bird open from114 members,
the Committee were more than delighted at these entries but were even more delighted by the
historic performances achieved by the members and their pigeons. Setting a record that may
never be repeated, was Walker & Wilson of St Abbs who, achieved 1 st open Newbury with
“Shore new era” 313 miles and the silver medal, then 1 st open Alencon our premier Gold medal
race with ace pigeon “Shore 61” flying 530 miles and the Gold Medal. From Falaise this
partnership then won 1 st open flying with “Shore Gem” 500 miles winning their second silver
medal, then, amazingly in the young bird open they timed their first bird from Leicester to win
1 st open and their third silver medal flying 231 miles and a velocity of 1463 four first opens and
the gold medal and 3 silver medals, was a phenomenal performance and produced by a
partnership that was already established national distance winners. From Cholet more was to
come with Mr & Mrs Chris Littles of East Riggs Annan, having the only Pigeon timed on the
day into Scotland, winning 1 st Open the silver medal and a special prize from the Cumbria
Combine and the North West of England with whom our birds had been liberated with. This
special Blue hen had a velocity of 1334 flying 554 miles and must have been in the first 10 birds
within the overall liberation a special performance.
Our first young Bird open was from Leicester and Walker & Wilson of St Abbs were the winners
with Adam Luke of the partnership Luke & Peters taking 2 nd open and on the 3 rd open position
was Mel Bel Jnr, with Stewart Roberts of Ayton coming in at 4 th open. This young bird race was
a fairly fast affair for the leading pigeons, even after a 2 day hold over, all sections timed pigeons
with reasonable returns.
2005 saw the SNRPC introduce Wednesday basketing for the Premier channel race, and
basketing for the young bird Open on the Friday instead of Thursday both races giving the birds
one day less in the baskets. Mr & Mrs Chris Little of Annan won the extreme average for
Alencon and Cholet as well as the average in section A. The Late Jimmy Keir in Partnership
with his wife Jessie won the Overall average Decanter for the four old bird races and also the
Sculpted glass award for the best average in section C. John McNeil in section D had an
exceptional year winning four Bronze section medals and the section Average Mr and Mrs Davy
Elloit of Newbigging won the section E Average award which included a great 5 th open from
Falaise. Section B Average winner was to John Bell of Tranent In section F there was no
Average winner but Ian Ross of Glasgow won 2 section Bronze medals for Alencon and Cholet
and from section C for 2 nd open Cholet was Pete Patrick winning the John Trail Trophy for best

performance over the Forth At this point in time the John Fairbairn Memorial Shield was not
quite finished but was destined to be presented to the winner of our Gold Medal Premier race to
be kept for one year. Many other Fanciers won bronze medals in this our inaugural year the
following is a roll-call of these good fanciers Jim Ohara Allanton, John Ellis Dundee, John
Carrberry & son of Croy, Douglas Spittal of Glasgow, Barry McCrindle & Son of Glasgow John
Mack of Alloa, Geddas & Hillas of Glasgow, Jocky King of Kirkcaldy , Andy Thomson of
Dundee and Gregor MacCauly of Forfar. If 2005 had been a traumatic new venture, creating and
running the SNRPC, then 2006 was to be even more exciting, trying and testing for the
committee and members alike.
On Saturday the 18 th of February 2006 the SNRPC held its first presentation and dance in the
Cairn Hotel near Bathgate. 160 persons were present including our guests Mr & Mrs Les
Blacklock of Cumbria, Les is secretary of the Cumbria region of the RPRA and Mr & Mrs Bill
Wortley of Annan, Bill being a successfull long time writer of great distinction in the pigeon
World. An outstanding evening ensued thanks to our guests, the efforts of our President George
Wilson, our secretary John Baillie and the support of our member’s a precedent had been set for
the future with this function by the harmony and goodwill so much in evidence.
On the 4 th of March 2006 the first AGM of this exciting new Scottish distance club was held in
Loanhead near Edinburgh, a good turn out of members ensured that all officials and committee
were returned to office giving these people a vote of confidence for the future of the SNRPC. At
his crucial time all members had the threat of no racing facing the coming race season, only 5
days after our successful AGM the RPRA confirmed the worst, with racing being banned from
the continent, the channel Islands and strict controls on training and racing in the UK with
virtually the whole of Fife being banned completely due to a dead swan in cellarDyke near St
Andrews. The SNRPC committee set to restructuring our channel programme now confined to
the UK these logistics were not easy but it was achieved. On April the 21 st Defra agreed that
restrictions on UK racing and training would be lifted from the 1 st of May this was a relief for all
Fanciers in Britain but more so for the fanciers in Fife who now had a chance to catch up with
those of us who could race and train our birds during April. It took till early June before Defra
confirmed that racing would be allowed from the Continent, under certain restrictions, this in
itself now created another set of problems for the National clubs, transportation, licenses,
changes in marking times, dates and informing the members of these changes, despite all of these
problems the SNRPC was able to restructure its race programme and continue with its original
long distance programme.
Our original programme for 2006 was, Newbury the inland National, Reims our Premier Gold
medal race, St Nazaire our Longer race Lessay our last old bird channel race and Leciester our
Young Bird open. We also had arrangements in place for an Extreme distance race from Saintes
but due to Defra restrictions this sadly did not take place.
The 3 rd of June saw 1531 birds entered by 225 members for our inland national from Newbury,
then on the 23 rd of June 140 members sent 531 birds to our Premier Gold Medal race from
Reims, on the 1 st of July 124 birds were entered for our race from StNazaire then on the 15 th of
July saw 1106 entries for our last old bird race and on the 9 th of September 649 entries competed
in our young bird open from Leicester, taking all races into account, numbers were slightly down

on 2005 but when you take into consideration the problems encountered in the early part of the
season the committee felt that the entries had held up well
The Winner of our inland National and the silver medal was to Kenny & Steve Bald of
Easthouses Midlothian, their Blue cock named “Heart Of Midlothian “ flew the 318 miles with a
velocity of 1221 this turned out to be a hard steady race with Roy Seaton of Annan taking 2 nd
open on 1200 at 261 miles and 3 rd open in Pitlessie Fife to Brian Kinnear flying 345 miles and a
velocity of 1178, Jimmy Graham of Ecclfechan taking 4 th open and R White also in section A
taking 5 th open with 6 th open going to J Kinnes of Leislie Fife 7 th open to Walker & Wilson St
Abbs 8 th open to Peter Virtue of Cockburnspath 9 th open went to G Grant of Gretna and in 10 th
open was Jocky King with a 2 year old that had already flown 530 miles as a yearling winning
34 th open. In section D John McNeil taking his 5 th Bronze Medal for 1 st section, in section E
Walter McGaffney took the premier position and the Bronze medal and finally in section F Ian
Lowe won the Bronze medal this was not an easy race and the birds were well spread out with
velocities to match.
On the 23 rd of June 531 birds were liberated 5.50am in to a light South west wind at Reims in
France this turned out to be a classic long distance race with conditions for day birds being very
nearly perfect in fact 44 birds were timed on the day flying between 504 miles and 580 miles in
this the SNRPCs premier Gold medal race and a further 77 were recorded on the second day with
9 of these taking the remaining open Diplomas timed from 05.13am to 06.18am It is worth
noting that all sections timed on the day as follows 2 to section A, 14 to section B, 13 to section
C, 5 to section D, 6 to section E and 4 to section F all of these birds flying between 13 hours and
16 hours on the wing give or take some minutes which in any mans language is interesting
distance flying
The winner of the Gold Medal, was Wilf Flockart of Tranent with Gladiator, 1 st open and 1 st
section B velocity 1171 for 549 miles, Wilf was also 31 st open. On 2 nd open and 2 nd section B
was Peter Virtue of Cockburnspath a velocity 1170 for 536 miles, Peter was also 5 th open, 10 th
open 11 th open and 31 st open a great result for Peter. 3 rd open and 1 st section C was to Jackie
Wishart of Kirkcaldy velocity 1160 flying 564 miles 4 th open was Davie Burns also of Kirkcaldy
velocity 1157 for 564 miles, 6 th open was to Kenny and Steve Bald who had just won the inland
national, 7 th open and 8 th open was John Anderson of Anstruther in Fife 9 th open went to Dennis
Dall Ladybank Fife and 12 th open and 1 st section A went to Crombie and Mechan of Annan, J
Cosgrove & Son of Lesmahagow were 22 nd open and 1 st section E and Ian Lowe of Glasgow was
37 th open and 1 st section F very good flying for Ian and his section. This race was good as it gets
with hard working velocities for the distances involved, to all the other fanciers who won a
diploma in this the SNRPCs second premier Gold medal race it was great flying for the distance
and a great test of our pigeons with a little bit of history in the making.
Our next race was from St Nazaire and was to produce a great result for the SNRPC, 124 select
Scottish distance pigeons were liberated with 4000 National flying Club entries at 6.45am,
without doubt one of the best performances at the distance was to be achieved by John Proctor of
Kirkcaldy timing his blue cock at 21.37 at a distance of 613 miles the only SNRPC bird on the
day and against 4000 English birds would have been placed around the 135 th open mark. John
Proctors Blue Cock now named Mcfly, has an impressive record, as a yearling winning each year

at the distance to the present as a 5 year old this is an exceptional distance pigeon but to add to
Johns success in 2006 Jackie Wisharts 3 rd open in our Gold medal race from Reims was bred by
John Proctor and Gifted to Jackie. John was presented with the Shylass Trophy by the RPRA for
the best performance over 450 miles and another award from the Cumbria region with the John
Trail Trophy for best bird over the forth and the averages for section C. 2 nd open went to Harry
Maidment Ladybank with Cloe’s Angel timed at 05.52 and 3 rd open went to Mr & Mrs Davy
Elliot of Newbigging 4 th and 5 th open went to Wilf Fl.ockart of Tranent all told 28 pigeons being
recorded on the winning race sheet
An outstanding race, with a superb result!
The final old bird race from Lessay was with the Cumbria region and was to be won by a
yearling flying 491 miles into a 30 mile per hour North East wind on crossing the channel. Only
16 birds made it on the day from an entry of 1106 liberated 08.05 the 1 st open 1 st section C and
1 st yearling was won by Jim Benvie of Ladybank Fife timing at 21 .06 on a velocity of 1110, this
yearling cock named “Kingdom Boy” was to be destined for greater things and interestingly was
bred by John Proctor. 2 nd open went to Robert Nesbit of Cockburnspath timing at 20.38 flying
465 miles velocity 1086 Robert had another good one at 22.07 to take 13 th open. 3 rd open and 1 st
section E went to Ken Buchanan of Hamilton Ken timed at 21.06 on 464 miles and a velocity of
1044 ken had a great race timing at 21.15 for 8 th open 22.05 for 15 th open and on the second day
from 05.12 timed 7 other pigeons to make the open result. On 4 th open was Pete Patrick of
Thornton Fife who timed at 21.40 From section F Stuart Mullan of Port Glasgow timed a very
good yearling 21.49 on 481 miles to be 5 th open and 1 st section F, 6 th open went to Steven
Atichison of Eyemouth, Steven is never far away, on 7 th open was another section F bird to J &
J Gormanly of Glasgow good to see these section F fanciers on the open result. These 16 day
pigeons have to be acknowledged for their performances in facing the challenging 30 mile per
hour wind over the channel. Section D was again won by John Mcneill of Broxburn timing at
05.01 taking his 7 th Bronze Medal, this was a hard race with the result going well on into the
early afternoon of the second day.
The young bird open attracted 649 entries and the weather was almost perfect the Winner was
Stewart Roberts of Ayton timing at 12.07 from 08.00 liberation Stewarts winner was doing a
1623 velocity for 228 miles. Stewart is no newcomer to young bird racing and really wins out of
turn his young bird is named Georges boy and was a gift bird from George Hastie of Berwick on
Tweed. Taking 2 nd 3 rd 4 th and 5 th open were Walker & Wilson of St Abbs. All sections timed
pigeons from this national with section B winning 40 of the Diplomas and 5 to section C with
Velocities ranging from 1623 to 1427 Sections A, D, E and Fs velocities varied from 1397 to
1044 all members have to be applauded for competing in young bird national racing
The average trophy for the four old bird races, was won by John Proctor of Kirkcaldy, John also
won the John Trail Trophy for best pigeon over the Forth. The extreme race average for Reims
and St Nazaire was won by Wilf Flockart of Tranent,Wilf was also presented with the John
Fairbairn memorial shield. Kenny & steve Bald were also honoured by the Cumbria region.
Section Average winners were B, Robert Nesbit Cockburnspath. D, John McNeill Broxburn. C,
John Proctor Kirkcaldy section E, Mr& Mrs Davy Elliot from Newbigging. The following also
won bronze medals Brian Kinnear, Pitlessie Fife, Walter McGaffney Lesmahagow, Roy &

Marion Seaton Annan, Crombie & Mechan, Annan, Ian Lowe Glasgow, Jackie Wishart
Kirkcaldy, John Cosgrove & son Lesmahagow, Stuart Mullan of Port Glasgow, John Anderson
of Dundee, Mr& Mrs Chris Little East Riggs Annan Jim Smith of Polmont and Barry
McCrindle & Son Glasgow
Our second AGM was held on the 10 th of February 2007 in Loanhead Edinburgh when around,
80 staunch members were present. The officials elected for 2007 were the President George
Wilson, Senior Vice president Ken Buchanan, Junior vice president John Baillie, Secretary Jessie
Keir, their were 6 committee members not seeking re-election and the following new committee
members were elected, Ian Ross of Glasgow, Chris Little of Annan, Grant Caird of Monifeith,
Stuart Bowman of Cowdenbeath, Robert Reid of Beith, and John Gray of Falkirk. Elected for a
third term were 13 of the original committee.
Our second presentation function was held on the 17 th of February and 180 guests were present,
our top table guests were Mr & Mrs Peter Bryant the Manager of the RPRA and Mr & Mrs Steve
Richards the Editor of the British Homing World, once again the evening was a great success
with Wilf Flockart receiving the John Fairbairn memorial Shield from Johns Daughters and
Jimmy Hamilton being made an Honorary member of the SNRPC with most winners being
present to collect their Medals this in no small way made the evening special.
The race programme for 2007 was Wanstead Flats the Inland National on the 2 nd of June, our
Premier Gold Medal race from Reims on the 22 nd of June our longer channel race from Tours on
the 2 nd of July, with Arras our final channel race on the 20 th of July and the young bird open to
be flown from Leicester on the 8 th of September and finally our extreme distance race from
Saintes on the 21 st of July.
The entries for our 4 old bird races were Wanstead Flats 1110 from 200 members The Gold
Medal Race from Reims 575 birds from 150 members Tours with 109 entries and Portsmouth
due to no racing from France from the 3 rd of July with 877 birds from 136 members. The last
race was our young bird open from Leicester on the 9 th of September had some 700 entries.
2007 was to be plagued with vagrant weather conditions, Northerly winds and rain and once
again bird flu on the continent. The havoc caused to pigeon racing by these problems in general
is disastrous to say the least and the stress placed on the officials from all quarters of the fancy
and the powers that be are immense.
However experience and nerves of steel came to the fore and the SNRPC officials managed to
complete our race programme of 5 races with adjustments and a reasonable measure of success.
The First race was from Wanstead Flats, this was a new liberation site on the outskirts of London
and Matthew Boyle our convoyer liberated 1110 entries at 7 am on Saturday the 2 nd of June. It
must have been a difficult call for our race controllers Barney Kenny and Willy Gass under the
weather conditions prevalent that day but the race turned out to be very successful with a great
spread of open winners in all sections. 1 st open went to section E to Dan Mitchell and son of
Plains near Airdrie timed at 13.08 velocity 1642 flying 340 miles. 2nd open was to JT Airnes of
Clackmannan section D timed at 13.21 velocity 1613 flying 349 miles. 3 rd Open went to Peter

Virtue of Cockburnspath in section B timing his entry at 12.54 flying 317 miles with a velocity
of 1579. Peter was also 28 th , 35 th , 61 st and 77 th open. 4 th open went to J D Armour in Leven Fife
in section C, flying 343 miles on velocity of 1573.
5 th open went to Section A Mr & Mrs Jimmy Graham timed at 12.12 velocity of 1566 flying 278
miles. Sitting at 12 th open and 1 st section F, was F & W Doonon of Campsie a great open win for
section F velocity 1540 for 350 miles. 6 th open went to Denis Dall section C, 7 th open went to
Bert Sharp section D 8 th open Mr & Mrs D Skelton section A, 9 th open Micheal Welsh of section
B, 10 th open was John Proctor of Kirkcaldy section C. Every section was represented in the first
12 open positions and good returns were reported, a fast race and successful one for the first of
the season
On Wednesday the 20 th of June 575 pigeons were entered by the SNRPC members for our Gold
medal Premier distance race with distances from 504 miles to 595 miles being flown. The period
before the liberation of our birds was one of the worst that has been seen for a few years, North
winds with heavy rain serious flooding and bird flu found in the east of France. On Tuesday the
26 th of June at 11.35 am the decision was taken after much consultation to liberate and not one
person was in any delusion that a very hard race would ensue. The convoy had spent 6 days in
the baskets before liberation and would have to face a brisk North West wind on liberation
becoming stronger over the channel and the wind remaining Northerly en-route with the added
prospects of heavy rain showers.
The birds would certainly have to spend one night out and due to the forecast maybe a second.
Under normal circumstances one would have expected pigeons around 10 or 11am but the first 3
birds reported were in Chirnside to Tim Hall at 12.58 Tim was flying 525 miles then Jim Benvie
at Ladybank timed at 13.28 flying 572 miles and Peter Virtue at Cockburnspath at 13.42 flying
536 miles. 49 Gallant pigeons were timed on that Wednesday and a further 37 pigeons were
recorded in race time on the Thursday, 9 of these were early morning pigeons with the last one in
race time being timed around 16.00 hrs with a 401 yard velocity to be 83 rd on the sheet, at that
point in time a number of other pigeons were reported home but it was obvious that the weather
conditions had taken its toll and some good pigeons were missing.
Jim Benvie of LADYBANK Fife confirmed that the pigeon he had timed was “Kingdom Boy”
his 2 year old cock that had been first Open from Lessay in 2006, it was to be 1 st open Reims
wining the Gold Medal and setting another record for the SNRPC. 2 nd open and 1 st section B was
Tim Hall of Chirnside and 3 rd open was to Peter Virtue of Cockburnspath Peter had 7 pigeons on
the result and 2 more recorded on the 3 rd day 9 out of 10 he was 5 th , 7 th , 19 th , 36 th , 46 th and 56 th
open a outdatnding result for Peter. 4 th open went to Dennis Dall of Ladybank timing his 4 year
old chequer hen at 15.03 flying 570 miles one Mr Dalls special distance winning family Dennis
was also 29 th open and 52 nd open. Tam Currie of Darsie Fife timed at 15.41 to be 6 th open and 3 rd
section C flying 375 miles 8 th open 4 th section C was well known distance fancier Jocky King of
Kirkcaldy flying 565 miles timing his 3 year old Mealy hen at 15.57, On 9 th open was Billy
Davidson and Son being 1 st section E flying 553 miles this partnership was also 37 th , 71 st and
75 th open his 9 th open was timed at 15.31. 10 th open and 2 nd section E went to Vincent Smith of
Carluke timing at 15.54 flying 559 miles. 11 th open was Kerr Stainthrope of Lesmahagow and 3 rd
section E, Kerr also was 25 th open and a 3rd pigeon on the third day 11.06 In section D John

McNeill won 1 st 2 nd and 3 rd section D and12 th, 13 th, and 27 th open timing at 16.06,16.12 and 18.45
and on 15 th open from section F was Alex Roberts from Clydebank 583 miles timing his 5 year
old blue pied hen at 17.29 this good hen was also 1 st section F winning the Bronze medal. A
very difficult race but distance racing has never been easy and our distance candidates have to be
up to facing all kinds of weather. All distance clubs are in the same boat when it comes to the
weather and trying to forecast what conditions are to be over these long routes home, is not easy
and you are on to hiding to nothing if there happens to be north in the wind, our committee
congratulate all who were on the race sheet and for the support of all who sent birds.
What words can be used to describe John Proctors performance from Tours on Sunday the 1 st of
July 2007? When John Timed his 5 year old Grizzle Cock “Lucky Jim” at 21.27, only day bird
into Scotland flying 627 miles, this is the third pigeon to be the only bird on the day in the
SNRPCs Longer channel race and for John this is the second year running he has achieved this,
John in 2006 timed the only pigeon into Scotland on the day from 600 miles with McFly and in
2005 Mr& Mrs Chris Little from Eastriggs timed the only Day bird from Cholet flying 556
miles. The Committee are delighted that John and Chris with their pigeons have set these superb
performances with the SNRPC and pleased that they have been recognised not only by the
Scottish fancy but with the RPRA, the MNFC, the NFC and the Cumbria and West of England
Region.
109 entries for the SNRPC were convoyed to Tours with 3500 MNFC entries and after a 1day
holdover were liberated at 07.30 hours on Sunday morning the 1 st of July. 2 nd open went to W
Watson of Kirkfieldbank in section E timing his pigeon at 05.29 on the second morning flying
605 miles and also a second bird at 08.57 to take 20 th open, also in section E, Ken Buchanan of
Hamilton timed his 1 st bird at 05.47 taking 3 rd open flying 614 miles then a second pigeon at
06.36 on 5 th open and a third pigeon at 08.42 on 15 th open. In 4 th open Was Les Mackay of
Carnoustie flying 647 miles timing his good Mealy Pied hen at 06.57 this pigeon is closely
related to Les’s 1 st open Leige in 2001, les also had a second pigeon to be 26 th open. 38 Birds
were recorded on the open sheet 37 being timed on the second day quite a number of these birds
may not have been very far from home on the first day. The SNRPC recognise the effort and
dedication of all fanciers who fly these distances and the committee are committed to promoting
an extreme distance race from Saintes which to date has been cancelled twice due to
circumstances beyond the SNRPCs control, it is hoped that 2008 may be the year it will happen
so all Scottish Fanciers interested please note that a tentative date for this race is the 28 th of July
and will be decided by the members at our AGM on the 9 th of February.
The final old bird race was to be from Arras in France but sadly because of problems again
outside our control, our final old bird race was flown from Portsmouth. On Sunday the 22 nd of
July after a 2 -day holdover 877 entries entered by 136 members were liberated into a light
North- west at 06.35. The forecast was once more mixed with showers and varying wind
directions on route, it was to be a fairly fast race for the early birds but the result was to stretch
from The first arrival in section A to Mr & Mrs Skelton of Kilpatrick Flemming at 13.26 till
19.00 hrs with many fanciers reporting birds late on into the evening.
1 st open and 1 st yearling also 1 st section B was to Adam Luke of the Partnership Luke & Peters
timing his yearling cock at 14.45 on 365 miles and a velocity of 1310. 2 nd open 1 st section A was

to be Mr& Mrs Skelton timed at 13.26 flying 305 miles velocity 1306. 3 rd open was D
Mathieson & Son of Coalburn timing at 14.36 flying 352 miles with a velocity 1288. 4 th open
and 6 th open was Mr & Mrs J S Irving from Brydekirk in section A timing at 13.37 and 13.48
with velocities of 1278 and 1245. splitting these two birds with 5 th open and 1 st section C was
John Ellis of Wellbank Dundee timing his yearling hen at 15.56 on 403 miles velocity 1263 John
had another 7 birds on the results. 1 st in Section D and 7 th open was Tom Henderson of Stirling
timing his dark chequer hen at 15.46 flying 388 miles 1 st section F and 11 th open was Douglas
Spittal of Glasgow timing at 15.39 velocity 1222 for 378 miles so we have in the first 11 open
positions all sections represented. It is good to see this spread of open winners in these longer
races it gives encouragement to fanciers who may feel their loft position has them at a
disadvantage, it also says much for these fanciers dedication to their pigeons and our recreation
who from any section regularly appear on the results of these distance races the committee of the
SNRPC offer their congratulations to all have won this year and thank every member for their
continued support of the SNRPC
On Saturday the 8 th of September around 700 birds for the SNRPC young bird open from
Leicester were liberated at 08.15 am, with the weather conditions set fair a reasonable race was
expected and so it turned out to be.
The first bird timed was to Stewart Roberts of Ayton at 14.09 Stewarts young bird was flying
228 miles and had a velocity of 1131 and was to be the 1 st open winner and 1 st section B this was
Stewarts 5 th first open win in young bird National racing a great record and has sadly decided to
call it a day and is giving up racing pigeons, where do we find people to replace fanciers of
Stewarts calibre, very little if any young people are entering our hobby one wonders how long it
will be before the racing pigeon recreation is thing of the past.
On 2 nd open was Mr & Mrs A Forrest & son from Newbridge timing their young bird at 14.51 its
velocity was 1096.79 flying 247 miles and at 3 rd open was Walker & Wilson of St Abbs who
timed at 14.27 flying 231 miles velocity 1096.09 on 4 th , 5 th , and 6 th open was John McNeill of
Broxburn timing his three young birds at 14.56, 14.57 and 14.57 velocities were 1093, 1092.95
and 1092.49 Johns distance was 249 miles.
In 1 st section C and on 11 th open was Andy Thomson of Dundee he was flying 280 miles and
timed 15.59 velocity 1063
1 st section E and 129 th open was D Tervit of Ravenstruther timing at 16.26 flying 238 miles
velocity 853
in 1st section F and 102 nd open Barry McCrindle and Son timed at 16.32 flying 259 miles with a
velocity of 881,
In section A R White timed at 15.16 flying 184 miles to be 1 st section A and 173 rd open with a
velocity of 770.

The leading winners in 2007 are as follows. Dennis Dall of LadyBank Fife Wins the Crystal
Decanter for our four race Average he also wins the Crystal decanter for the Extreme Average
for Reims and Tours the sculpted glass plaque for the Average in section C.
Jim Benvie from Ladybank Fife wins the prestigious Gold Medal with Kingdom Boy for 1 st open
Reims and the John Fairbairn memorial Sheild.
Luke and Peters of Dunbar win the Silver medal for 1 st open from Portsmouth and also a crystal
decanter for 1 st yearling.
Dan Mitchell & Son of Plains near Airdrie, win the silver Medal for 1 st open Wanstead Flats.
John Proctor of Kirkcaldy Fife wins the Silver Medal for 1 st open Tours with Lucky Jim only
pigeon on the day his second Silver medal having won 1 st open St Nazaire with McFly only
pigeon on the day great flying.
Stewart Roberts of Ayton wins his second Silver medal for being 1 st open in our young bird open
from Leicester which he also won last year.
Section B average was won by Robert Nesbit winning The Sculpted Glass Plaque and a Bronze
medal for 1 st section B from Tours.
John McNeill of Broxburn wins the Sculpted Glass Plaque for the best Average in section D and
collects two Bronze medals for Reims and Tours.
Ken Buchanan from Hamilton wins the Sculpted Glass Plaque for best Average in section E.
The Following Fanciers win Bronze Medals for being 1 st in their sections. Mr& Mrs Jimmy
Graham Eccelfechan, Mr & Mrs J S Irving from Brydekirk, Mr & Mrs Skelton from Kirkpatrick
Flemming, R White from Springfield, Peter Virtue Cockburnspath, Tim Hall Chirnside, J D
Armour of Leven Fife, John Ellis from Dundee, John also wins a gold award diploma this year
with our Hall of Fame, Andy Thomson of Dundee,J T Airnes Clackmannan, Tom Henderson
Stirling, Mr & Mrs A Forrest& Son Newbridge, W Davidson And Son Coalburn, W Watson
from Kirkfieldbank, D Mathieson & Son of Coalburn, D Tervit of Ravenstruther, F W Doonon
Glasgow, Alex Roberts Clydebank, Ian Ross Chryston Glasgow, D Spittal Glasgow and Barry
Mc Crindle & Son.
In closing this brief summary on the first three years of the Scottish National Racing Pigeon
Club’s success. It is obvious it could not be possible without the members but especially the
members who helped form the club in the beginning and the members who have served on the
committee to-date. It is without doubt that each and every one have given their time and
expertise freely and only ever in the interests of the SNRPC, its members, racing pigeons in
general and the future of our recreation. May I remind our members that the AGM is on Saturday
the 9 th of February 2008 at 12noon in the Newbridge Bowling Club if you are genuine in seeing
the SNRPC successfully move forward please be present. The President the secretary and the
committee wish all our members a very successful healthy and prosperous New Year.

Ian M Brown PRO the SNRPC 01577 840358 email ian@ianmbrown.wanadoo.co.uk